The former Lakers great, who now is a part owner of the Dodgers, says the team's fans are spoiled.

"I don't know how they're going to react now because this is going to be a tough season," Johnson said Tuesday in a radio interview on ESPNLA 710. "This is going to be one of the roughest seasons that the Lakers have ever faced.

"You're waiting on Kobe (Bryant) to see if he can get healthy. Nobody knows if he can be what he was. Then you've got (Pau) Gasol -- who I think is a premier big man -- but he plays better when he has talent around him.

"You've got guys who are all on one-year contracts, and all were journeymen on other teams. Laker fans are not used to that. I don't know if they're going to buy into that. We're going to see. If you want the Laker fans to really buy in and be involved, you're going to have to win right away. I don't see that happening."

Yahoo! Sports reported that the point guard is progressing in his recovery from knee surgery and could be back on the court within two weeks.

Westbrook, 24, underwent a second procedure on his right knee early this month. At the time, it was estimated his recovery would be 4-6 weeks. But he could be ahead of schedule. The Yahoo report indicated that teammates were impressed with Westbrook in recent practices.

The knee injury - a slight meniscus tear - occurred in Game 2 of the Thunder's first round playoff series with the Houston Rockets last spring. Without Westbrook, the Thunder's hopes of trying to unseat the Miami Heat as NBA champion evaporated.

In 82 regular-season games last season before the injury, the sixth-year pro averaged 23.2 points and 7.4 assists.

---Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes will miss the first two games of the regular season because of a foot injury, coach Mark Jackson said.

The foot issue kept Barnes from playing for most of the preseason. He has been shut down for nearly three weeks because of lingering inflammation.

Barnes played in 81 of 82 regular-season games as a rookie last season, averaging 9.2 points and 4.1 rebounds.

Once Barnes returns, the Warriors are planning to use him off the bench. Andre Iguodala joined the Warriors as an offseason acquisition.

---Calling it a "happy day" and the end of a "great ride," former Philadelphia 76ers great Allen Iverson formally announced his retirement during a news conference in the Sixers' home arena, over three years after he played his final NBA game.

The 38-year-old Iverson, an 11-time All-Star, four-time NBA scoring champion and three-time All-NBA first-teamer, spent parts of 12 seasons with the Sixers, and played 14 years in total. He was the league MVP in 2001, leading Philadelphia to its most recent appearance in the Finals.

Iverson, who also spent time with Detroit, Denver and Memphis, scored 24,368 points in his career, 19th-most all-time, and averaged 26.7 points a game. Listed at 6 feet tall, he is widely considered to be one of the greatest little men to ever play the game, along with Hall of Famers Isiah Thomas and Nate "Tiny" Archibald.

Iverson played his last game on Feb. 20, 2010, for the Sixers against the Chicago Bulls. He briefly played professionally in Turkey since ending his NBA career, but has otherwise been idle.

Known for his daring all-out style on the court, he has also become something of a cultural icon because of his tattoos, the cornrows in his hair, jewelry and baggy clothing.